Favourites: Jehst
Finding out the all important what, where, when, who and why with the long-time UK emcee and producer.
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Everyone has their own favourite things. And so in this spirit, we ask the great, the good and the downright talented about the things that mean the most to them.
HUCK caught up with legendary UK hip hop emcee and producer Jehst ahead of his appearance at XOYO in London on April 16 to find out what he is into.
What?
Vinyl. I’m still addicted to it! Digital formats are convenient but wax still reigns supreme in my eyes. I love the fact that it’s been embraced by a whole new generation of deejays and collectors, especially when it comes to all the new dance music and electronic stuff that’s bubbling at the moment. Long live the wax!
Where?
In the sunshine. Where else? Like Roy Ayers said, 'everybody loves it'! It tends to bring out the best in people and it totally transforms England – London especially. It’s a different place when the sun’s out. Anyway, I’m a moody bastard, I need the vitamin D.
When?
Now. As the saying goes, there’s no time like the present. I really think it’s important to enjoy each moment and make the most of each day. I know it sounds mad corny, but it’s a really hard thing to do. It’s much easier to dwell in the past or live in a fantasy version of the future than it is to be happy in the present.
Who?
Me. Not to big myself up. It’s just a matter of being focused on my own personal goals. Obviously, there are countless influences on both my life and my music that I could try and pick from to name-check here, but I feel like it would just be a token gesture of appreciation. I’ve spent a lot of time in the background over the last few years working with different artists and trying to build a sustainable infrastructure for producing and releasing music, but in the process I’ve lost sight of being an artist in my own right. At this particular point in time, I’m just trying to do me and make up for lost time.
Why?
Because I love it when a plan comes together! Right now I’m grinning and tapping my cigar ash while B.A tells me that he ain’t getting’ on no plane…! I’m motivated by my love of music and belief in freedom of expression. I believe in the healing power of art – creativity is therapy! I sound like a total hippie don’t I? In fact this whole interview reads like a self-help book! Ha ha…
Jehst appears alongside Ghostpoet, Kutmah and more at XOYO, London EC2A on Aprl 16.
The new album The Dragon Of An Ordinary Family on June 6 on YNR Productions.
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Favourites: Jehst (text) by Ed Andrews is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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